Tarek Atoui comprehensively exploits the potential of sound art, which lies at the heart of his practice. He is not only interested in how audio events or sounds develop an acoustic effect. Equally important to him is how these phenomena can be perceived with sensory organs other than the ear, how they act as a catalyst for human interaction, and how they relate to social, historical, or spatial parameters. The point of departure for his works is usually extensive anthropological, ethnological, musicological, or technical research, which results in the realization of instruments, listening rooms, performances, or workshops.
Atoui has presented his work internationally at the Sharjah Biennial in the United Arab Emirates (2009 and 2013); dOCUMENTA 13 in Kassel, Germany (2012); the 8th Berlin Biennial (2014); Tate Modern, London (2016); CCA NTU, Singapore (2017); Garage Moscow (2018); the 58th International Art Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia (2019), the Okayama Art Summit 2019, The Fridericianum (2020). He was appointed co-artistic director of STEIM studios in 2007, and of the Bergen Assembly, a triennial for contemporary art in Norway in 2016.
Tarek Atoui currently lives and works in Paris, France.
Register for the lecture
Wavelength is an online lecture series that is a collaboration between VCUarts, the ICA, and VCUarts Qatar. A dynamic group of artists, designers, curators and scholars have been invited to share their work with the VCU communities in Richmond and Doha as well as the general public throughout the 2020–21 academic year. Lectures are free, but registration is required.